Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe had an air of confidence about him as the side prepare for the away trip to Stoke.

A fine performance and three vital points in the previous match against Sunderland has given the Cherries a boost as they look to kick on once again and continue to prove they can cut it in the Premier League.

Howe admitted there will be some tough decisions over team selection to be made but felt his players were in good shape for what will be a hard fixture.

Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe has fond memories of his loan spell at Bournemouth when he was a raw teenager trying to make the grade in the game.

And as many Cherries fans will remember he did himself no harm during his brief stint as he banged in goals in a purple patch that truly put his name on the map and ensured he broke through into the West Ham first team when he returned to the club.

Listen to Defoe, who returns to the south coast with Sunderland, reflect on his special time in Bournemouth.

Bournemouth winger Matt Ritchie admitted the Cherries deserved to lose away to Norwich City – but promised they will bounce back.

A poor showing against last seasons Championship play-off winners saw them leave Carrow Road on the wrong end of a 3-1 result.

Ritchie featured for Scotland against World Cup winners Germany before returning to the south coast as the Premier League resumed following the break, which clearly had a negative affect on the players.

He told the Echo: “We didn’t perform as well as we normally do, certainly nowhere near the standards we’ve set this season. It didn’t quite click and we never really got going.

“I don’t think we’d have created as much as we’d have liked. You can’t play to your absolute maximum every week, although of course that’s what you aim to do.

“We’re very disappointed but we will move on quickly and concentrate on Saturday. It’s about how we react now.”

Boss Eddie Howe admitted he was surprised by the poor level of performance but was confident of bouncing back.

Bournemouth’s hat-trick hero Callum Wilson could not hide his delight after helping his side sink West Ham 4-3 in a thriller at Upton Park.

After two defeats in their opening games to Aston Villa and Liverpool it was a great response from Eddie Howe’s men as doubt might have been setting in over whether they could compete in the Premier League.

Wilson also silenced a few of his doubters with his devastating finishing that sees the Cherries up and running.

Bournemouth fans could not hide their delight as the club secured its first ever win in English football’s topflight thanks to an incredible 4-3 win over West Ham in a pulsating game.

After suffering two defeats to Aston Villa and Liverpool – both by a solitary goal – in the south coast outfit’s opening fixtures in the Premier League, the new boys were determined to get off the mark.

A superb Callum Wilson hat-trick sent the travelling Cherries fans into dreamland – with them unable to hide their ecstasy.

Watch the AFCB faithful go wild as they remind the Hammers fans of the score at Upton Park.

Liverpool striker Christian Benteke suggested his side were lucky in their win over Bournemouth at Anfield – with his poached goal incorrectly being awarded.

The Belgian prodded home from close range but the goal should have been disallowed after Philippe Coutinho was not waved offside despite trying to score himself from close range – impacting on Cherries ‘keeper Artur Boruc’s ability to go for the ball.

Benteke’s cheeky smile and admission afterwards that “you never know” whether play will be waved on was telling. Bournemouth also had a perfectly good goal ruled out before that when Tommy Elphick was harshly judged to have made a foul.

Liverpool were lucky with big decisions going their way in the 1-0 win over Bournemouth, according to Eddie Howe.

While the Cherries could only curse their inability to convert chances in the opening Premier League fixture against Aston Villa, they were left feeling cheated by referee Craig Pawson on two occasions that defined the outcome of the game at Anfield.

First of all, Bournemouth were left angry when Tommy Elphick’s header from a corner was ruled out for a foul on Dejan Lovren despite there being hardly any contact.

This was then compounded when a cross that was whipped in saw Philippe Coutinho clearly interfering with play as he tried to make contact with the ball – impacting on ‘keeper Artur Boruc – before Christian Benteke prodded home from close range.

Howe admitted he was surprised by the decisions, which he said cost his side.

Eddie Howe remained upbeat despite Bournemouth losing their first ever English topflight fixture to Aston Villa.

Following the unlikeliest tale in reaching the Premier League after nearly being dumped into the conference in 2009, the Cherries were given a stark reminder of what it will take to stay in the promised land after going down 1-0 despite playing well.

Howe was happy with the performance and felt his side deserved more but was typically honest when admitting his team’s failure to convert any of their chances ultimately cost them.